need advice on toning/trainer...

I've had great success with a personal trainer in the past. The trainer came highly recommended by one of his clients that worked in my office and both guys were in great shape. So I decided to try it and I really enjoyed it! It was expensive but I could afford it at the time, not anymore. :-(

I would definitely make sure you pick someone who looks great, is encouraging, and a good fit for your personality. The reason I say looks great is because I think it's dumb to go to a fat trainer but that's just my opinion.

And it doesn't matter how much you pay someone for personal training sessions, you still have to eat healthy or you are just wasting your money.

Good luck!!!

It doesn't cost anything to inquire about the cost of a session or what is included in training with them. A good trainer will be able to do an assessment and design you a program you can do on your own in just a couple of sessions if money is an issue. Also, when you are checking out your trainer, don't necessarily judge by looks. There can be any number of genetic or metabolic diseases that impair fat loss to keep the trainer "larger" then your ideal, but that doesn't mean they can't run circles around the skinny trainers in the gym. Also, remember that their goal for themselves may not be what you would have as a goal for you, so don't judge them by the workouts you see them doing in the gym. Go by their education. Ask to see their certifications, degrees, etc. If they aren't well educated, don't sign up with them. In some places, anyone who "looks good" can be a trainer. Just because they have great genetics to look good, doesn't mean they know squat about exercise or how to work around your issues. Especially since you have had back issues, interview them and ask their qualifications for working with someone with your issues. Most trainers, even certified trainers, aren't trained to work with people with injuries or other issues. They need to have taken an advanced certification or have a degree in exercise science to work with special populations to be properly prepared to keep from injuring you further. I've actually taken some of those CEC's and am currently in a degree program, so I am seeing first hand how little the average certified trainer knows about how the body works with special conditions. Please send me a PM if you have any questions about the organizations they have taken courses with or about specific certifications they have, or anything else I can help you with.